stories

I get to teach 8th grade today. Good times. I told this little guy he could come in the classroom a few minutes early from lunch. I asked how his lunch was and he proceded to take that as an invitation to tell me everything about his life. I found out where he buried his dead birds - fincehes to be exact, but isn't sure where the mama bird is buried. I found out that he has a white bird that blends in with his vanilla colored curtain. I found out that he used to live in Kentucky and there was a band teacher that lived across the street from him who wanted him to play in the high school band as a solo, even though he was only in junior high. I got to see the northern lights on the internet cause he found them for me. I got to hear all about his insulin shots because he is diabetic.
I realized today from austin, that all people want to do is tell their stories. It could be the dumbest story you have ever heard, and when they just keep on talking and talking and talking they don't get the hint and continue to tell you their dumb stories. But truth be told, I think that all people want is to have someone know them.
I stink at listening. The other day I was driving someone in my car for about 20 minutes. I honestly don't remember what we talked about. My mind was totally somewhere else and I think I told her "that's awesome" about 28 times. She might have been telling me that her gerbil died yesterday, but she thinks that according to me, that's pretty awesome.
I hope that I actually seek out people's stories. That I always invite people to share and that I actually listen so that I can love them even just a little bit better and maybe even learn from them.